Nearly 400
signed petitions were handed in to the Roxbury municipal clerk today, while
Mount Arlington residents handed in 111 signatures. In both towns, there were
dozens of extra signatures submitted.

Once the
petitions are certified, the citizens’ group can then work on an application
with the state to form the consolidation commission, comprising five residents
of each town. The commission is designed to study the pros and cons of merging
the towns, and if the issue should go before voters of both
communities.

The process,
which follows the Municipal Consolidation Act of 2007, is similar to what is now
taking place in Scotch Plains and Fanwood, which formed their consolidation
commission earlier this year in partnership with local elected officials.

“This is
another example of local citizens working under state law to promote change,”
said Gina Genovese, executive director, Courage to Connect New Jersey, which is
assisting the citizens’ group through the process. “The group of petitioners in
Mount Arlington and Roxbury are making history for their hometowns, calling for
an analysis to see if the two towns are better
together.”

The effort was
put together by the Roxbury Taxpayer Association, including Fran Day, Garry
DeFilippis and Chris Rogers, this year’s Roxbury School Board candidates. In
Mount Arlington, the effort was driven by former Councilman Gene Paradiso, a
current school board member who joined a group to merge the towns in the 1990s,
before the Municipal Consolidation Act of 2007 was adopted.

“The
only focus I have concerning this topic is that there is a need to complete the
Fact-Finding phase of such an effort,” Paradiso said. “I am personally not in
favor or against following through with Consolidation. I would like to uncover
all the variables and related facts so that this topic can finally have the
facts and the community given the ability to weigh their options in a
non-emotional manner.”

President of Roxbury TEAM, Craig Heard added,
“We share the goal of improving educational quality in the schools by
eliminating waste, lowering property taxes and directing savings to the
classroom. That is why we have played an integral part in raising awareness
about consolidation.”

Another key
player has been Maureen Castriotta, a candidate for State Senate who has made
consolidation one of her key issues during her
campaign.

The effort to
gather petition signatures began October 2012, with residents from both towns
meeting to discuss the petition process.

“We formed a
team to raise awareness about consolidation, and petition residents’ signatures
to submit proper documentation to the state Department of Community Affairs and
ultimately get approval for a Consolidation Study that would analyze
feasibility,” Heard said. “Now, with the petitions submitted, the goal is to
analyze potential savings by consolidating municipal functions, school
administration, and adoption of best practices.

Roxbury and
Mount Arlington are not the first to pursue this initiative. Princeton Borough
and Princeton Township conducted the study in 2011,
and consolidated on January 1. The merged town has more than $3 million
in tax savings and has received positive feedback from residents.